Snow is on the way: Starting Tuesday

After a long, dry January it looks like the snow is finally coming back to the Sierra, but not until next week. So, enjoy one more weekend of sunny Spring skiing this weekend then wax your powder skis for next week. They’re talking in terms of feet, not inches!!

Here’s the latest forecast from the Western Weather Group:

HIGHLIGHTS: A tranquil weather pattern will continue through Saturday with gradually warming temperatures. The westerlies will finally break through on Sunday with snow likely by Tuesday. Several feet of snow will be possible.

Weather Discussion: The next few days will be fairly uneventful other than the warming temperatures as the Eastern Pacific ridge slowly pushes inland and moves overhead. By Saturday, temperatures may warm into the lower 50’s at lower elevations while the peaks reach the lower 40’s. Slight cooling is expected on Sunday as the ridge finally breaks down and allows the Westerlies to finally make their much anticipated return. The flattening of the ridge will be caused by an area of low pressure that will sit off the Alaska/British Columbia coast while its cold front slides southward and stalls near the Oregon/California border. Another area of low pressure with subtropical origins will approach the West Coast and merge with the southeastern flanks of the Gulf of Alaska low on Monday. As the low moves inland, it is expected to stall which will leave the threat of precipitation over much of the West Coast for a couple of days. The cold front associated with this system will push inland on Monday and sag southeastward through the day and possibly reach the Lake Tahoe area as early as Monday night. As the cold front arrives, temperatures will quickly fall-off with the high temperature on Tuesday actually coming in the pre-dawn hours. Snow is likely on Tuesday with snowfall totals ranging from a half foot up to a foot in lower elevations with the potential for almost two feet along the peaks. Accompanying this snow will be strong winds which will likely impact lift operations in exposed areas. An upper-level disturbance associated with the system will dive southward on Wednesday and continue the risk of snow for the area with models indicating similar to slightly lighter snowfall amounts. Looking towards the end of next week, models continue to indicate that a second storm will move into the state with snow arriving as early as Thursday.

Weather forecast provided by Western Weather Group, Chico, CA. Access to daily weather forecasts for the Lake Tahoe area or other regions of California can be purchased by contacting Western Weather Group at 530-342-1700 or info@westernwx.com.